1978 American Association season
The 1978 American Association season was the 71st in the league's history, and ended with the Omaha Royals winning the league championship. The Royals had lost the two previous championship series to the Denver Bears.
The Royals became only the fourth team in Triple-A history to win a championship with a losing record, and the first since the 1955 Rochester Red Wings. The 1939 Louisville Colonels were the only other AA team to achieve the feat.
This was the first season for the Springfield Redbirds.
Final standings[edit]
Playoff teams in bold .
East Division | W | L | Pct. | GB | Manager | Affiliation |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Indianapolis Indians | 78 | 57 | .578 | -- | Roy Majtyka | Cincinnati Reds |
Evansville Triplets | 78 | 58 | .574 | ½ | Les Moss | Detroit Tigers |
Springfield Redbirds | 70 | 66 | .515 | 8½ | Jimy Williams | St. Louis Cardinals |
Iowa Oaks | 66 | 70 | .485 | 15½ | Joe Sparks | Chicago White Sox |
West Division | W | L | Pct. | GB | Manager | Affiliation |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Omaha Royals | 66 | 69 | .489 | -- | John Sullivan | Kansas City Royals |
Denver Bears | 64 | 71 | .471 | 2 | Doc Edwards | Montreal Expos |
Oklahoma City 89ers | 62 | 74 | .456 | 4½ | Mike Ryan | Philadelphia Phillies |
Wichita Aeros | 58 | 77 | .430 | 8 | Harry Dunlop | Chicago Cubs |
Championship Finals[edit]
|
League Leaders[edit]
Batting[edit]
- Batting Average Dane Iorg, Springfield, .371
- Runs Scored Tony Bernazard, Denver, 107
- Hits Champ Summers, Indianapolis, 170
- Doubles Scot Thompson, Wichita, 33
- Triples Bob Pate, Denver, 11
- Home Runs Summers, 34
- Runs Batted In Summers, 124
- Stolen Bases Lonnie Smith, Oklahoma City, 60
Pitching[edit]
- Wins Sheldon Burnside, Evansville; Bill Paschall, Omaha, 14
- Earned Run Average Jack Kucek, Iowa, 2.48
- Complete Games Paschall, 13
- Shutouts Steve Baker, Evansville; Mike LaCoss, Indianapolis, 3
- Strikeouts Dan Warthen, Oklahoma City, 144
- Saves Doug Corbett, Indianapolis, 12
All-Star Team[edit]
- First Base Dane Iorg, Springfield
- Second Base Jerry Manuel, Evansville
- Shortstop Ron Oester, Indianapolis
- Third Base Harry Spilman, Indianapolis
- Outfield Champ Summers, Indianapolis; Kerry Dineen, Oklahoma City; Jim Lentine, Springfield
- Catcher Keith Moreland, Oklahoma City
- Utility Pete Mackanin, Denver; Arturo DeFreitas, Indianapolis
- Pitcher Jack Kucek, Iowa; Dan Warthen, Oklahoma City
- Manager Les Moss, Evansville
References[edit]
The Encyclopedia of Minor League Baseball. W. Lloyd Johnson and Miles Wolff, editors. Baseball America, 1993.
1979 Baseball Guide
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